Africa’s largest oil refinery, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery in Nigeria, is facing significant challenges in ramping up gasoline production, delaying its much-anticipated contribution to regional fuel supplies. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that technical issues in the refinery’s catalytic cracking unit and other production segments have hindered operations, forcing the facility to temporarily scale back output.

Commissioned earlier this year, the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery was expected to transform Africa’s downstream energy landscape by reducing reliance on imported fuels. However, persistent operational bottlenecks, equipment calibration delays, and feedstock inconsistencies have slowed progress toward full-scale gasoline production.

Industry analysts note that such teething problems are common in mega-refinery startups, particularly those involving advanced refining and blending technologies. Once stabilized, the refinery is expected to meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel demand and export surplus volumes across West Africa.

Despite current challenges, Dangote Industries remains confident about achieving operational stability in the coming months. The company continues to fine-tune its processes and collaborate with international technology partners to ensure sustained production and compliance with global quality standards.